Lorraine looks fantastic - 3 st 5 lbs loss!
Kellie Collins This time last year, Lorraine weighed 14 st 2 lbs, which gave her a BMI of 31. She wasn’t happy with her weight but after several attempts at dieting in the past, Lorraine wasn’t looking forward to starting again. “I couldn’t face the prospect of feeling hungry and miserable for months on end with a traditional low-fat, low-calorie “lettuce and cottage cheese” type diet!”
But then Lorraine discovered our online Gi diet and realised it was full of the type of food she loved to eat! “I’d heard about the Gi phenomenon on the news so I was curious to see what was involved. After some research, I discovered that it was far from being another daft fad. It seemed like a sensible, simple way to eat healthily. I also loved the idea of an online diet.”
As a single mum to 5 year old Sam and with a full-time job, Lorraine certainly didn’t have time to attend weekly weigh-in meetings, and this had actually been one reason she had failed on diets in the past. But one year later, Lorraine’s ‘after’ photo above says it all! A loss of 3 st 5 lbs and a new healthy BMI of 24 has Lorraine weighing in at 10 st 10 lbs and she’s delighted with her success.
“I’ve always had a lively personality and a confident outlook, but a year ago, before I lost the weight, I felt that my appearance didn’t match what was going on inside. I looked old but felt young. Now I’m proud of the way I look! I really enjoy having a younger looking body and being able to dress more fashionably. No more mail-order baggy clothes for me. I’ve exchanged a low of rich food for a love of nice clothes! Now, if I could only win the lottery…”
With her busy lifestyle, Lorraine admits she found the meal plans on the site invaluable. “The structured approach is ideal if you are busy because once you’ve printed off your meal plan for the week, that’s it. Everything is planned for the week ahead and the shopping list makes sure that you don’t overspend on rubbish that you don’t need! I have plenty of favourite recipes from the plan but I still love trying out new foods and new recipes. This has really kept the diet interesting to follow and has motivated me to continue.”
Previously, Lorraine’s downfall had been portion sizes. “I’ve always loved cooking fresh food but I used to prepare far too much for one person. Now I’m much more conscious of portion control and I know how much I can have of something without tipping the balance. I eat much fewer takeaways, drink less alcohol and drink more water. The variety of food and the type of dishes I cook has widened considerably thanks to the meal plans.”
Not surprisingly, Lorraine’s family and friends are very impressed with her progress. Her GP has even congratulated her! “My family and friends keep asking me what the secret is! I think it’s hilarious when I cook them a meal from the plan, such as Chicken Fajitas, and they ask me “Are you sure this is really diet food?” My GP was so impressed with my progress that he asked me for details of the programme to be able to pass it on to other patients!”
Lorraine has actually surprised herself with her dedication in reaching her target! “I’m so proud to have come this far without getting bored – I normally have the attention span of a goldfish! I’m also proud of the way I look now. When I used to catch my reflection in a shop window, I’d wince and look away. Now I smile and do a twirl. People must think I’m nuts!”
“For the first time ever, I’m really confident that I can maintain this weight. After a year of following the Gi diet, my new healthy eating habits are very firmly entrenched. In fact, it’s more like a lifestyle training course than a diet! I can cope with social situations now – holidays, parties business travel – and I know that I can stay in control of what I eat and drink. I can even incorporate the occasional ice-cream or piece of cake without a problem!”
Lorraine is grateful for the encouragement she received on our site to keep exercising. “This has made such a difference to an old lazy bones like me. I am emphatically not a natural athlete but now I have an exercise bike which is regularly used, and a Tai Chi DVD for when I need to wind down and relax. My little boy, Sam, and I go swimming every week and that’s great fun!”
Finally, Lorraine wants to say a huge thank you to her friends on the online support boards. “Everyone’s been such a great source of inspiration and support. For those weeks when the scales haven’t moved and you think it’s all been a waste of time, the people on the boards are there cheering you on to keep going. When you have a good week, everyone’s delighted on your behalf."
"The vast online community on the diet is a terrific resource to dieting at home. Joining this site was the best thing I’ve ever done!”
